A/N:Hey guys! I'm back with a new chapter :D this one is kinda boring, because it's just leading up to the good stuff :)

Thanks so much to Nicia, rangarose, chasing down a daydream, Liv it up in style and kittenxxkisses :D you guys are all awesome, thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: (I realize that I forgot to do this on the last chapter.) I don't own VA or its characters. They belong to Richelle Mead. I only own Lily, Cam, and a few others.

On with the chapter!

~ Sarah Odair ~

Chapter Three

I heard quiet voices from all around me. My whole body hurt like hell, especially my head. I tried to move, groaning when it sent a shock of pain through my spine.

"She's waking up!" someone whispered excitedly.

"Rose? Honey, open your eyes," I heard Dad's soft voice murmur. Dad?

I slowly opened my eyes, wincing when they were assailed by bright fluorescent lights. It sent a dull ache through my head.

"Rose," Dad breathed, taking my hand in both of his large, warm ones.

"Daddy?" I whispered. I hadn't called him Daddy since I was eight years old, but it just kinda came out.

"I'm here, sweetie," he said softly, kissing my hand.

I groaned again. "What happened?" I asked groggily.

Dad hesitated, and a new voice from my other side spoke up.

"Rose, dear, you were in an accident," Aunt Blair said gently, stroking my hair. She looked haggard; her long, silver-streaked auburn hair was in a messy bun, she was pale, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days.

I blinked hard. "I don't remember it at all," I murmured, rubbing my head with my free hand. I winced when pain shot through my skull.

"Careful, Kiz. You hit your head pretty hard," Dad told me, his voice soft.

I sighed, when realization hit me.

"Is Mom . . . is she really dead?" I asked hesitantly, looking back and forth from my aunt to my father.

They exchanged a look, both nodding.

I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself not to cry. I hadn't liked my mother, but I hadn't wanted her to die, either.

"Where's my phone?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

Dad let go of my hand and reached over to the bedside table, pressing my phone into my hand.

I unlocked it, and it said that I had a missed call. I knew that it would be the call that I'd ignored from Mom.

I saw that I had a voicemail, so I immediately checked it, putting my phone on speaker.

What I heard absolutely broke my heart.

"Rose . . . I don't blame you for not answering. I really don't. I've been unnecessarily mean to you for the past nine years, and I'm sorry for that. It may have seemed like I didn't love you, but I did. I do. I'm sorry that I was so hard on you . . . and I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday, Rose. Just know that I love you with all my heart, and I always have. Goodbye, my sweet little Rose."

I broke down in tears upon hearing the message Mom had left.

I couldn't help remembering the last words I'd said to her.

"Screw off, Mom. If you'd let me live with Dad, you wouldn't have to deal with any of this shit. But your a stubborn bitch who seems to enjoy making my life miserable. Lily and Cam can do no wrong in your eyes, just me. So fuck you, and fuck this. I'm out of here," I snarled, throwing my napkin on the table and pushing my chair out.

Before leaving the room, I turned to Aunt Rachel. "Thanks for dinner, Aunt Rach." And then I turned back to Mom. "Don't bother calling me, because I won't answer my phone. I'm so done with you and your shit. You hate me, and I hate you. So there. Goodbye."

There were no words to even begin to express how much I wished I could take those words back. If I'd known that they would be the last ones I ever spoke to her, I never would have said them in the first place. I would've told her how much I loved her, and how hurt I was that she was always putting me down. But I would have wanted her to know that I loved her no matter what.

Too late now, I thought miserably.

"Where's Lily?" I asked.

"She's in the cafeteria with Cameron," Dad replied, rubbing my hand with his thumb.

I sighed. "How is she taking everything?"

"As good as can be expected. It's a lot to handle," Aunt Blair murmured.

I nodded. "Where are the others? Uncle Ben, Aunt Rachel, Uncle James?" I questioned.

Dad took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. "They're making final arrangements for the funeral tomorrow."

"Oh." I paused. "Am I gonna be able to go?"

Aunt Blair's hazel eyes were filled with sadness. "No, honey. The doctors want to keep you here to make sure that you're okay. You bruised your spine and cracked a few ribs, not to mention your concussion," she replied, her voice soft.

"That's not fair," I whispered.

Dad's dark eyes met mine. "I know, Kiz. But I'll be here with you."

"You're not going?" I asked, surprised.

He shook his head. "I think you mother would've wanted me to stay here with you," he replied, squeezing my hand gently.

Just then, Lily and Cam walked through the door. When Lily saw that I was awake, she dropped the paper cup that she held, spilling dark coffee all over the white floors.

"Rose!" she cried, throwing herself at me, sobbing hard.

I couldn't help the yelp of pain that escaped my lips as she accidentally pressed against my cracked ribs.

"Lillian!" Aunt Blair said sharply. "Be careful!"

"Oh, God! I'm sorry, Rose!" Lily exclaimed, crying harder.

"Shh, Lill, it's okay," I murmured, stroking her messy red hair.

Lily was an absolute mess; her clothes were wrinkled, her hair was thrown up in a messy, off-center ponytail, and she was crying hysterically. Cam didn't look much better, standing forlornly in the doorway.

I sighed. "Come here, Cam," i said softly.

He made his way over and hugged me gently.

"You had us terrified, Rose. I . . . I thought you weren't going to wake up," he whispered.

"Why would you think that?" I asked gently.

"Because you took so long to wake up."

My brow furrowed. "How long have I been out?"

"Rose, the crash was almost two days ago," Dad told me, frowning. "I just got here last night."

My eyes widened. "Well, shit!" I exclaimed. "How hard did I hit my head?"

Dad shrugged. "It slammed pretty hard into the window, Kiz."

That brought me to another thing. "Is my car okay?"

Dad shook his head. "Completely totaled."

I sighed. Nothing was going right for me; my mom died, I was in a car accident, and my car is unrepairable. Why doesn't God just hit me with a lightning bolt and finish me off already? Does my misery need to be drawn out like this?

I spent the rest of the day drifting in and out of sleep. Visitors came and went, but I barely paid them any mind. I had too much going on.

And the next day, while everyone else was at the funeral, Dad and I watched TV and played cards in my hospital room. I couldn't get past the fact that I couldn't go to my own mother's funeral.

I was discharged the day after the funeral, and the first thing I did was get Dad to take me to Mom's grave.

Once there, Dad passed me the flowers we'd bought, white lilies and red roses, and I laid them on the soft earth at the base of her stone.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered, kissing my fingers and pressing them to the stone. I wiped the lone tear that had fallen and let Dad wrap an arm around me and lead me back to the car.

The drive was silent. Dad knew to just leave me alone to think, and I was grateful for it.

Once home, I continued packing my things. Lily, Cam and I would be moving back to Saint John to live with Dad. It was exactly what I'd always wanted, but I found myself unable to be happy about it. I wanted to move to Saint John for the right reasons; not because my mother died.

Lily, Cam and I would be going to Saint Malachy's Memorial High School, where Lily and I would finish our last year of school. Cam would be there for two and a half more years, since he was in grade ten. I hadn't liked St. Vlad's, but I didn't want to go to a new school halfway through my last year. I had to, though. I couldn't drop out.

By the next day, we were on Dad's private jet, headed home.

Up next: Saint John, as well as a few familiar faces ;)

If you guys were wondering, I chose Saint John because it's where I live, so it's easier to write about it because I know everything about it xD

So, guesses on who we'll see in the next chapter? ;)

I already have the next few chapters done (seriously, I'm writing chapter 8 right now) so I'll update tomorrow or something :P

Until next time!

~ Sar ~